STUDENT ADVICE

How to ace your university interview

University interviews can seem scary, but with practice and preparation, you will be able to calmly breeze through the interviews.

Only some courses will require you to interview to progress your application, majority of them will not. Some of these subjects include: Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Education, Music and Art & Design.

However, there is no telling what subjects will ask you to interview – it really is up to the university. For example, Oxford and Cambridge ask all candidates to interview, regardless of the course.

First things first, practice answers to common questions

Most universities ask questions along the same lines, such as ‘Why do you want to study the subject?’ or ‘Why do you want to study at this university?’. Make sure you have your answers ready for these questions – but not too much that it all sounds fake and scripted. Make sure the conversation flows naturally whilst answering the questions.

Then, get familiar with your personal statement

To apply to university in the UK, you would have had to write a personal statement. It is important you are aware and familiar with what you have written in this, as it is smart to refer to it during the interview and mention it when you can.

Make sure you have all your documents ready

If you are applying for an arts course, you may be asked to make a portfolio with your prior work. We will let you know what is required of you in the interview, but you must have all these documents ready.

At the interview, make sure you arrive early and are dressed smartly

Turn up around 20 minutes before the interview is scheduled. This will give you enough time to get familiar with the location and avoid getting stressed out. This will also avoid you from running to the location and turning up sweaty and disheveled. If the interview is online, make sure you are all set up with strong wifi well in advance. Also, make sure you look smart to leave a good impression.

Also make sure you are prepared to ask your own questions

At the end of an interview, you may get the chance to ask some of your own questions. Make sure you are prepared so that you can show the university you are interested in the course and university. Some examples could be: asking about a specific module/topic or asking what type of learning or assessments there are.

Lastly, make sure you RELAX

With proper preparation and honesty, there is nothing to worry about. Nerves are a good sign that you want it to go well, but remember you must not seem too jittery and nervous. If you got to this stage it means universities are interested in you already, so well done for getting to this stage!

Leaving for university means you will find yourself with new ‘adult’ responsibilities, like paying bills, managing money, cooking, cleaning, etc. So here are some helpful tips to get you prepared before you begin!

Sort out the basic essentials – sign up for accommodation

As soon as your place in university is confirmed, make it a priority to sort out the basic essential of where you are going to live. Halls of residence (student halls) are allocated on a first come first serve basis, so make sure you have your place secured as soon as possible.

Basic Essentials – bank and phone contracts

Make sure you have a student bank account set up. Many mainstream banks offer this with added incentives, which will help you in the long run. Also, make sure you have a UK phone contract set up – so that it is cheaper for you to get into contact with your flatmates, course mates and contact other UK numbers in the future.

Budgeting

When going to university, you will be surprised how easy it is to spend your whole student budget in one week of university. As soon as you know what your expenses are (rent and bills), sit down and work out a budget you can stick to during the academic year. Prioritise how much you have to spend on the essentials and then how much you can spend on leisure.

Practice Life Skills

To make settling into university easier, it will be helpful to carry out these core life skills in the months leading up to university. You could begin doing your own washing or cooking dinner occasionally, to help you get settled into university.

Buy everything you need (within reason)

Make sure you buy everything you need, but do not make the mistake of over-packing or making unnecessary purchases. Research on what you actually need to take and what you do not. For example, if moving into student halls, you will most likely have basic facilities, so do not need to buy kitchen appliances. Also you will often have limited storage space, so make sure you do not pack all of your clothes (you will need things to wear when you head home for the holidays). It is always the best idea to wait until classes start before buying any textbooks, as it may mean you don’t even have to buy any textbooks in the first place.

Join the Facebook groups or group chats

Almost all universities have Facebook groups set up for those joining university that year – so make sure you join them! It is a great way to meet those who you may be living or studying with. There are often different groups per accommodation or per course. This will also help you get added onto different WhatsApp groups, which means you could find specific people in your flat or seminar group. This will make joining university less scary when you’re there.

Having an idea of what to expect and how to carry out these tasks will help you feel less nervous and more prepared.

Starting university can be terrifying as much as it can be exciting, but remember to enjoy it as much as you possibly can, as it has the potential to be one of the best experiences of your life.

So here are some tricks to help you get settled once you have arrived at university.

Meeting new people

Arriving at your new accommodation can be scary, but remember, everyone is in the same boat – and everyone is as nervous as each other. Try to avoid sitting in a room in silence, start the conversation with those in your kitchen, or those in your class. Ask basic questions such as: ‘where are you from? What are you studying? Have you joined any societies?’ Head out during Freshers Week, which is a week before universities begin designed to ease you into university life, which is often a great way to bond with those you live with.

Join societies

Grades and Workload

It may be scary starting a whole new course and learning how to balance all the adult life skills, socializing and a heavy workload. Just remember, every course is about 3-4 years long, so you have time to practice your course subjects and have time to get adjusted to the workload. First year is a way to practice balancing the workload, getting used to exams and assignments.

Sign up to a GP

Most universities have an on-campus GP, so make sure you contact your university asking which one you should register with. This will be beneficial in the long run as it makes sure you will have access to healthcare whilst studying in case of emergency.

Spend time getting to know your surroundings

Explore the university campus, get to know the students’ union, lecture buildings and other facilities. Also explore the surrounding area and get familiar with the essential areas. Locate your nearest bus stops, train stations, local shops and GP surgery. This will also help you work out your route to go to university so you are prepared for your first day.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to reach out for help

Within the first few weeks, it is normal to experience homesickness and struggle, but it is okay to reach out for help. Have regular catch ups with friends and family to reduce some of the homesickness. Make sure you stay active to help balance your mental health, and allow your time to rest in between studies.

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